Essential Leader Program

Essential Leader Program (ELP) has been created specifically for employees who want to become better leaders and learn key leadership skills. This program is open to all employees wanting to make the most of their changing job expectations as well as potential career opportunities. You do not have to be in a supervisory position to enroll in the program!

You do not have to be a supervisor to be a leader. Each one of us is a leader at some point by serving on a committee, working on a project, training or mentoring a new employee, or volunteering our skills in community activities.

Participants are required to take 20 certificate eligible courses over a two year period. A self-assessment is required at the beginning and the end of the program. You may begin the series at any time and take courses in any order.

Designed around seven leadership competencies, the program is demanding and the skills learned are immediately applicable in the workplace. Competencies include Communication, Teamwork, Creative Problem Solving and Flexibility, Interpersonal Skills, Professionalism, Resolving Conflicts and Leadership. Each competency consists of a total number of ELP units which include required class offerings.

How Do I Register?
If you are interested in this program, please call Debra Graham at 257-9427 or email debra.graham@uky.edu for more information.

As long as you live you will have at least some unwelcome and unproductive friction with others. Read more »

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Personality Differences

As long as you live you will have at least some unwelcome and unproductive friction with others. Scientists have discovered that 75% of the population is significantly different than you. In this workshop we will explore what the differences mean and how to turn stress and irritations into understanding and productivity.

At the end of the session, the participants will be able to:

Identify their personal communication/personality style.

Describe their personal style strengths and weakness.

Explain backup behaviors and their consequences on others.

Identify the personal communication styles of others.

Flex to different communication styles.

Understand the underlying motivations that can initiate "difficult" behavior.

Discover ways to deal with challenging behaviors of others.

Manage the specific problem behaviors of coworkers according to their personalities.

Designed for the professional who is occasionally (or frequently!) required to make presentations, this intense, practice-focused workshop extends over two sessions. Read more »

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Presenting Effectively

Designed for the professional who is occasionally (or frequently!) required to make presentations, this intense, practice-focused workshop extends over two sessions. Participants will be videotaped and required to prepare a presentation for the second session.

Successful leaders rely on their work groups to create success. Read more »

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Leading Effective Teams

Successful leaders rely on their work groups to create success. But effective teamwork doesn't occur in a vacuum of leadership. Leaders must take positive steps to create an empowering climate and influence the team's direction. By the end of this workshop, leaders will be able to:

During this workshop we will explore just why working together as a team is so important to the success of the University as well as your personal success. Read more »

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Teamwork in a Changing Workplace

Why bother with teamwork? After all, isn't it simpler to just do your job and not worry about what anyone else is doing? During this workshop we will explore just why working together as a team is so important to the success of the University as well as your personal success.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

Understand why change happens.

Understand who is responsible for change.

Deal with the four phases of change.

Examine behaviors that are obstacles to change.

Understand why teams have become so important to American companies.

Demonstrate your understanding of the four stages of team development.

You and your co-workers encounter a range of range of problems at work. Read more »

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Group Problem Solving

You and your co-workers encounter a range of range of problems at work. During this workshop, we will explore a quick and easy 3 stage problem solving process; identify strengths and weaknesses at each step of the process; and create action plans for improvement. By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Identify the steps of the problem-solving model.

Understand roles and tasks in group problem solving.

Write a problem statement.

Analyze the possible and probable causes of a problem.

Use brainstorming and fishbone diagrams to generate ideas.

Gather data using check sheets, flow charts, and interviews.

Identify and choose the best solution using pro/con, criteria checks, and decision matrices.

Personal Decision Making

Most of us make hundreds of decisions every day. Many of us are also unhappy with the decisions that we make. We wonder if we have thought things through or we are disappointed that the outcomes are not what we hoped for. In this workshop we will provide a simple decision making procedure that will enable us to make decisions that are workable, timely and cost effective.

Reasoning is the process of examining data (facts, information, evidence, observations, and experiences) and drawing inferences, judgments, and conclusions from the data. Read more »

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Thinking Critically

Reasoning is the process of examining data (facts, information, evidence, observations, and experiences) and drawing inferences, judgments, and conclusions from the data. Some people argue that by definition reasoning is always critical. However, the reality is that we confine much of our reasoning to the surface; we quickly identify the problem and then implement a solution that seems to solve it. Too often, we attack the symptom of the problem short-circuiting the reasoning process and any creativity.

Generations in the Workplace is a half-day workshop that describes the characteristics, values, and motivations of the four generations in the workplace. Read more »

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Generations in the Workplace

Generations in the Workplace is a half-day workshop that describes the characteristics, values, and motivations of the four generations in the workplace. This workshop will identify how each generation defines success and will investigate the differences that impact communication and relationships in the work environment.

During this workshop we will:

Define the four generations and their workplace characteristics

Identify the common drivers and value systems of each generation and how those drivers and values affect motivation and behavior in the workplace

Illustrate generation-based workplace conflicts

Describe how each generation defines success and understand how the differences affect communication and relationships in the workplace

In order to understand diversity, it is important to understand how individuals are different. Read more »

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Basics of Diversity

In order to understand diversity, it is important to understand how individuals are different. We must explore the four major layers and all the dimensions we all have in order to identify our biases towards other individuals. In order to build and sustain trust in the workplace, we must move beyond the fear of not knowing what to expect to creating an environment that expects and encourages the greatest contribution from all employees.

When faced by an interaction that we do not understand, people tend to interpret the others involved as "abnormal", "weird", or "wrong". Read more »

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Communicating Across Cultures

When faced by an interaction that we do not understand, people tend to interpret the others involved as "abnormal", "weird", or "wrong". This tendency can lead to prejudice. It is vital that we learn to control the human tendency to translate "different from me" into "less than me." We can learn to do this. Awareness of cultural differences doesn't have to divide us from each other. It doesn't have to paralyze us either, for fear of not saying the "right thing". In fact, becoming more aware of our cultural differences, as well as exploring our similarities, can help us communicate with each other more effectively.

Recognize the six fundamental patterns of cultural difference.

Respect differences and work together.

Recognize the importance of non-verbal communication in multicultural interactions.

Recognize and apply the ultimate gesture when communicating multi-culturally.

Apply guidelines for multicultural collaboration.

Identify and apply techniques to communicate across culture and language.

Recognize and use tactics for removing cross cultural communication barriers.

Employees with bad attitudes are in total control of both their perceptions and their actions. Read more »

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What to Do About Bad Attitude Behaviors

Employees with bad attitudes are in total control of both their perceptions and their actions. Bad attitudes can be changed only by the beliefs being changed. Supervisors cannot change the beliefs or perceptions of others. The bad attitude will be there as long as the person wants it! However, you can change the behaviors of the bad attitude employee - this is absolutely something you can focus on. You can establish appropriate boundaries and eliminate the perceived payoffs for the negative actions. If behavior is changed successfully, it is possible that a change of attitude may follow. In this seminar, we will look at and consider productive ways of dealing with people who exhibit the worst of bad attitude behaviors: people who demonstrate hostility, anger, and out-of-control behaviors; and people who demonstrate negative non-verbal behaviors.

As a leader, you doubtless encounter conflict among your front line staff members. Read more »

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Managing Staff Conflict

As a leader, you doubtless encounter conflict among your front line staff members. Unproductive conflict can cause significant problems if not addressed effectively. By the end of this session, you will be able to:

Meetings have a bad reputation-mostly because they are often conducted so poorly! Effective meetings build communication and enhance productivity. Read more »

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Meeting Focus

Meetings have a bad reputation-mostly because they are often conducted so poorly! Effective meetings build communication and enhance productivity. In this session, you will learn how to accomplish these meeting issues effectively:

What is a leader? Can you become the leader you envision? During this workshop, we will address the issue of becoming the best leader each of us can be. Read more »

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Basics of Leadership

What is a leader? Can you become the leader you envision? During this workshop, we will address the issue of becoming the best leader each of us can be. We will address the concept of situational leadership in which the leader adapts to the knowledge and skill base of the team member. We will also address how personality styles affect a leader's behavior.

In the world of customer service delivery, your staff is critical. Read more »

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Leading Your Service Providers

In the world of customer service delivery, your staff is critical. It is their direct, personal, real-time interactions with the customers that you, the Customer Service Manager/Leader, are there to support.

The way you manage customer service employees has some unique attributes. The way you treat and talk about customers has a profound effect on your staff performs, how they view their jobs and UK, and the effort they will put forward to serve customers. It is time to step up to the concept of coaching your staff.

By the end of this seminar, you will have gained insights into the following leadership functions: